Abatement and strip process chamber in a dual loadlock configuration

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide a dual load lock chamber capable of processing a substrate. In one embodiment, the dual load lock chamber includes a chamber body defining a first chamber volume and a second chamber volume isolated from one another. Each of the lower and second chamber volumes is selectively connectable to two processing environments through two openings configured for substrate transferring. The dual load lock chamber also includes a heated substrate support assembly disposed in the second chamber volume. The heated substrate support assembly is configured to support and heat a substrate thereon. The dual load lock chamber also includes a remote plasma source connected to the second chamber volume for supplying a plasma to the second chamber volume.

BACKGROUND

Field

Embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating devices on a semiconductor substrate. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to load lock chamber including two chamber volumes and at least one chamber volume is configured for processing a substrate.

Description of the Related Art

Embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating devices on a semiconductor substrate. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to load lock chamber including two load locks and capable for processing a substrate.

Ultra-large-scale integrated (ULSI) circuits may include more than one million electronic devices (e.g., transistors) that are formed on a semiconductor substrate, such as a silicon (Si) substrate, and cooperate to perform various functions within the device. Typically, the transistors used in the ULSI circuits are complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) field effect transistors. A CMOS transistor has a gate structure comprising a polysilicon gate electrode and gate dielectric, and is disposed between a source region and drain regions that are formed in the substrate.

Plasma etching is commonly used in the fabrication of transistors and other electronic devices. During plasma etch processes used to form transistor structures, one or more layers of a film stack (e.g., layers of silicon, polysilicon, hafnium dioxide (HfO₂), silicon dioxide (SiO₂), metal materials, and the like) are typically exposed to etchants comprising at least one halogen-containing gas, such as hydrogen bromide (HBr), chlorine (Cl₂), carbon tetrafluoride (CF₄), and the like. Such processes cause a halogen-containing residue to build up on the surfaces of the etched features, etch masks, and elsewhere on the substrate.

When exposed to a non-vacuumed environment (e.g., within factory interfaces or substrate storage cassettes) and/or during consecutive processing, gaseous halogens and halogen-based reactants (e.g., bromine (Br₂), chlorine (Cl₂), hydrogen chloride (HCl), and the like) may be released from the halogen-containing residues deposited during etching. The released halogens and halogen-based reactants create particle contamination and cause corrosion of the interior of the processing systems and factory interfaces, as well as corrosion of exposed portions of metallic layers on the substrate. Cleaning of the processing systems and factory interfaces and replacement of the corroded parts is a time consuming and expensive procedure.

Several processes have been developed to remove the halogen-containing residues on the etched substrates. For example, the etched substrate may be transferred into a remote plasma reactor to expose the etched substrate to a gas mixture that converts the halogen-containing residues to non-corrosive volatile compounds that may be out-gassed and pumped out of the reactor. However, such process requires a dedicated process chamber along with an additional step, causing increased tool expense, reduced manufacturing productivity and throughput, resulting in high manufacturing cost.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for removing halogen-containing residues from a substrate.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide apparatus and methods for processing a substrate. Particularly, embodiments of the present inventions provide a dual load lock chamber capable of processing a substrate, for example by exposing the substrate positioned therein to a reactive species.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a load lock chamber. The load lock chamber includes a chamber body defining a first chamber volume and a second chamber volume isolated from one another. The first chamber volume is selectively connectable to two processing environments through two openings configured for substrate transferring. The second chamber volume is selectively connected to at least one of the two processing environments. The load lock chamber further includes a heated substrate support assembly disposed in the second chamber volume and a remote plasma source connected to the second chamber volume for supplying a plasma to the second chamber volume. The heated substrate support assembly is configured to support and heat a substrate thereon.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a dual load lock chamber. The dual load lock chamber includes a chamber body defining a first chamber volume and a second chamber volume isolated from one another. Each of the first and second chamber volumes is selectively connectable to two separate adjacent environments through two openings configured for substrate transferring. The dual load lock chamber also includes a heated substrate support assembly disposed in the second chamber volume. The heated substrate support assembly is configured to support and heat a substrate thereon. The dual load lock chamber also includes a remote plasma source connected to the second chamber volume for supplying reactive species to the second chamber volume.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a dual load lock chamber. The dual load lock chamber includes a chamber body defining a second chamber volume and a lower lock load volume isolated from one another, a substrate support assembly configured to support a substrate disposed in the first chamber volume, and a heated substrate support assembly configured to support and heat a substrate disposed in the second chamber volume. Each of the first and second chamber volumes is selectively connectable to two separate adjacent environments through two openings configured for substrate transferring. The dual load lock chamber also includes a shower head assembly disposed over the heated substrate support assembly, wherein the showerhead assembly is configured to distribute one or more processing gas to the second chamber volume.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for removing halogen-containing residues from a substrate. The method includes transferring a substrate to a substrate processing system through an incoming load lock of a double load lock chamber coupled to the substrate processing system, and etching the substrate in the substrate processing system with chemistry comprising halogen. The method also includes removing halogen-containing residues from the etched substrate in an outgoing load lock of the double load lock chamber, wherein the outgoing load lock is isolated from the incoming load lock in a single chamber body. Removing halogen-containing residues includes heating the etched substrate on a heated substrate support assembly of the outgoing load lock, and flowing a processing gas to the outgoing load lock.

The method described above, wherein removing halogen-containing residues includes creating a symmetrical processing environment using a hoop liner surrounding the heated substrate support assembly.

The method described above, wherein flowing the processing gas may include generating a plasma of the processing gas in a remote plasma source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a dual load lock chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the dual load lock chamber of FIG. 1 with a lifting hoop in a loading/unloading position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a second chamber volume of the dual load lock chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a first chamber volume of the dual load lock chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a first chamber body of a dual load lock chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective sectional view showing the first chamber body and the second chamber body assembled together.

FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view illustrating pumping channels formed in the second chamber body and the first chamber body with a heater substrate support assembly removed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic section view a dual load lock chamber according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a substrate processing system including dual load lock chambers according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing a substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for processing a substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for fabricating devices on a semiconductor substrate. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a dual load lock chamber including two isolated chamber volumes, wherein at least one chamber volume is configured for processing a substrate, for example, by exposing the substrate to reactive species.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a load lock chamber having at least two isolated chamber volumes formed in a body assembly. The two isolated chamber volumes may be vertically stacked or disposed side-by-side. The two chamber volumes are independently operable to increase throughput. In one embodiment, a first chamber volume is configured to expose a substrate disposed therein to reactive species, for example removing halogen residual from the substrate or removing photoresist from the substrate. The second chamber volume is utilized only to exchange between adjoining environments, such as an environment of a factory interface and transfer chamber. One embodiment of the present invention provides a load lock chamber including a thin heated substrate support for heating the substrate therein and a showerhead disposed over the thin heated substrate support for uniformly supplying one or more processing gases to the load lock chamber. In one embodiment, the showerhead is connected to a remote plasma source to supply reactive species to the load lock chamber. The load lock chamber of the present invention may also include a hoop liner to create a symmetrical processing environment within the chamber volume utilized to process the substrate. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hoop liner may be coupled to one or more lift fingers configured to exchange substrates with substrate transfer robots disposed outside of the load lock chamber.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a dual load lock chamber 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The dual load lock chamber 100 includes a first chamber volume 110 for transferring a substrate 104, and a second chamber volume 120 for transferring and processing a substrate 104. The second chamber volume 120 and the first chamber volume 110 are vertically stacked together and are isolated from one another.

The dual load lock chamber 100 includes a chamber body assembly 103. In one embodiment, the chamber body assembly 103 includes a first chamber body 111 and a second chamber body 121 coupled together to define a unitary structure housing the first and second chamber volumes 120, 110. In one embodiment, the first chamber body 111 and the second chamber body 121 are vertically stacked. Although the first chamber body 111 is shown stack below the second chamber body 121, it is contemplated the first chamber body 111 may be stack above the second chamber body 121 or positioned horizontally side-by-side.

The second chamber volume 120 of the dual load lock chamber 100 has a showerhead 129, a heated substrate support assembly 132, and a lift hoop assembly 144. The showerhead 129 is disposed over the heated substrate support assembly 132. The lift hoop assembly 144 is configured to confine a processing environment within the second chamber volume 120, as well as being operable to load and unload substrates from the heated substrate support assembly 132 and substrate transfer robots (not shown).

The second chamber volume 120 is defined by sidewalls 122 of the second chamber body 121, a lid liner 127 disposed over the sidewalls 122, a bottom wall 123 of the second chamber body 121, and a top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111. The lid liner 127 has an inner lip 127 a forming a central opening 127 c. The inner lip 127 a holds a showerhead 129 and a source adapter plate 128. In one embodiment, the lid liner 127 is removably disposed over the second chamber body 121 to allow access to chamber components.

The showerhead 129 includes a face plate 129 d having a plurality of through holes 129 a formed therethrough and a back plate 129 c having a central opening 129 e. The face plate 129 d and the back plate 129 c enclose an inner volume 129 b. The inner volume 129 b serves as a plenum for enhancing the radial uniformity of gas provided into the second chamber volume 120 through the through holes 129 a formed through the face plate 129 d.

The source adapter plate 128 is disposed above the back plate 129 c of the showerhead 129. The source adapter plate 128 has a central opening 128 a matches with the central opening 129 e of the showerhead 129. A remote plasma source 130 is in fluid communication with the inner volume 129 b of the showerhead 129 through a quartz insert 131 disposed in the openings 129 e and 128 a. The disassociated reactive species from the remote plasma source 130 enters the second chamber volume 120 through the quart insert 131 to the inner volume 129 b of the showerhead 129, then through the through holes 129 a of the showerhead 129 to the second chamber volume 120.

In one embodiment, the showerhead 129 is fabricated formed from quartz such that surfaces of the inner volume 129 b exposed to the reactive species within the plenum is lined by quartz. The quartz insert 131 and the showerhead 129 shield metal chamber components from being exposed to the reactive species provided from the remote plasma source 130, thus substantially reducing species recombination, attack of metal chamber components and particle generation.

The remote plasma source 130 is generally connected to one or more gas panels for supplying one or more processing gas to the upper chamber volume 110 through the remote plasma source 130. In one embodiment, the remote plasma source 130 is connected to a first gas panel 101 configured for providing processing gases for an abatement process to remove residual material after etching and a second gas panel 102 configured for providing processing gases for an ashing process to remove photoresist.

The heated substrate support assembly 132 is configured to fit in the second chamber volume 120 of the dual load lock chamber 100. The heated substrate support assembly 132 is installed to be substantially thermally insulated from the chamber body assembly 103. In one embodiment, the heated substrate support assembly 132 is configured to heat the substrate 104 up to 300° C. while the chamber body assembly 103 remains cool.

In one embodiment, the heated substrate support assembly 132 includes an upper heater plate 133, a lower heater plate 134 attached to the upper heater plate 133, and a heater 135 disposed between the upper heater plate 133 and the lower heater plate 134. In one embodiment, the heater 135 may be disposed in channels formed on an upper surface of the lower heater plate 134. The heater 135 may be a resistive heater or conduits arranged to flow a heat transfer fluid. The upper heater plate 133 and the lower heater plate 134 may be joined together by bolts, welding or brazing. In one embodiment, the upper heater plate 133 and the lower heater plate 134 may be formed from metal, such as aluminum.

The upper heater plate 133 is configured to support the backside 104 b of the substrate 104. In one embodiment, the lower heater plate 134 has an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the upper heater plate 133. A focus ring 151 may be disposed on an outer edge 134 a of the lower heater plate 134 exposed radially outwards of the upper heater plate 133. The focus ring 151 surrounds the upper heater plate 133 and the substrate 104 disposed thereon. The focus ring 151 functions to retain the substrate 104 and to modify processing rate around an edge area of the substrate 104 during processing. In one embodiment, the focus ring 151, the upper and lower heater plates 133, 134 may have matching cut outs 155 configured to provide passage for lift fingers 147.

The heated substrate support assembly 132 is mounted on a thermal insulator 143 disposed on the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111 through a central opening 123 a in the bottom wall 123 of the second chamber body 121. In one embodiment, a recess 118 a may be formed on the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111. The recess 118 a may allow vacuum ports formed in the first chamber body 111 to connect with the second chamber volume 120. The heated substrate support assembly 132 does not directly contact the chamber body assembly 103. The thermal insulator 143 may be formed from a thermal insulative material, such as a ceramic, to prevent thermal exchange between the heated substrate support assembly 132 and the chamber body assembly 103 including both the second chamber body 121 and the first chamber body 111.

The thermal insulator 143 is positioned to center the heated substrate support assembly 132 relative to other components in the second chamber volume 120, for example the showerhead 129, and the lift hoop assembly 144. In one embodiment, the thermal insulator 143 aligns with a central axis 132 a of the heated substrate support assembly 132 to ensure that the heated substrate support assembly 132 remains centered during thermal expansion.

A cantilever tube 136 extends from a backside 134 b near the center of the lower heater plate 134. The cantilever tube 136 extends radially outwards to connect with a vertical tube 137 disposed through an opening 153 of the second chamber body 121 and an opening 152 of the first chamber body 111. The tubes 136, 137 do not contact the second chamber body 121 or the first chamber body 111 to further avoid heat exchange between the heated substrate support assembly 132 and the chamber bodies 111, 121. The cantilever tube 136 and the vertical tube 137 provide a passage for power supplies, sensors and other wiring to be used by the heated substrate support assembly 132. In one embodiment, a heater power source 138, a sensor signal receiver 139 and a chucking control unit 140 are wired to the heated substrate support assembly 132 through the passage in the cantilever tube 136 and the vertical tube 137. In one embodiment, the chucking control unit 140 is configured to provide a vacuum chucking mechanism.

A cooling adaptor 141 is coupled to the vertical tube 137 and the first chamber body 111 from outside of the first chamber body 111. The cooling adaptor 141 has cooling channels 141 a formed therein. A source for cooling fluid 142 is connected to the cooling channels 141 a to provide cooling to the cooling adaptor 141 and the vertical tube 137, the cantilever tube 136, and other components of the heated substrate support assembly 133. The cooling adapter 141 generally stays cool during processing, thus, functioning as a thermal insulator between the heated substrate support assembly 132 and the chamber body assembly 103.

In one embodiment, bi-metal connectors may be used for connecting various parts of the heated substrate support assembly 132 to provide uniform temperature control.

A more detailed description of the heated substrate support assembly 132 can be found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/448,018, filed Mar. 1, 2011, entitled “Thin Heater Substrate support”.

The dual load lock chamber 100 also includes the lift hoop assembly 144 for transfer substrates between exterior robots and the heated substrate support assembly 132 and for providing a symmetrical processing environment in the second chamber volume 120. The lift hoop assembly 144 include a ring-shaped hoop body 146 disposed within the second chamber volume 120 around the heated substrate support assembly 132. The hoop body 146 is coupled to a lift 160 disposed in an outer region of the second chamber volume 120. The lift 160 moves the hoop body 146 vertically within the second chamber volume 120. In one embodiment, the lift 160 includes a bellows 161 for vertical movements. The lift 160 may be coupled to a motorized actuator 169 disposed outside the chamber body assembly 103.

Three or more lifting fingers 147 are attached to the hoop body 146. The lifting fingers 147 extend vertically downwards and radially inwards from the hoop body 146. The lifting fingers 147 are configured to transfer substrates between the heated substrate support assembly 132 and substrate transfer devices, such as robots, outside the second chamber volume 120. Tips 147 a of the lifting fingers 147 form a substrate support surface configured to support the substrate 104 at several points near an edge region of the substrate 104.

FIG. 1 shows the lift hoop assembly 144 in an upper position for substrate exchange with exterior substrate transfer devices. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the dual load lock chamber 100 the lift hoop assembly 144 in a lower position for substrate processing.

When the hoop body 146 is at a lower position shown in FIG. 2, the lifting fingers 147 are positioned below the upper surface 133 a of the upper heater plate 133. As the hoop body 146 rises to the upper position, the lifting fingers 147 move to contact with and lift the substrate 104 from the heated substrate support assembly 132. While the hoop body 146 is at the upper position shown in FIG. 1, external substrate transferring device (not shown) can enter the second chamber volume 120 through one of the ports to remove the substrate 104 from the lifting fingers 147 and subsequently place a new substrate 104 onto the lifting fingers 147. When the hoop body 146 lowers to the lower position again, the new substrate 104 positioned on the lifting fingers 147 is placed on the heated substrate support assembly 132 for processing.

A hoop liner 145 is attached to the hoop body 146. The hoop liner 145 extends vertically upwards from the hoop body 146. In one embodiment, the hoop liner 145 is a ring having a substantially flat cylindrical inner wall 145 a. In one embodiment, the height 145 b of the inner wall 145 a of the hoop liner 145 is much greater than the thickness of the heated substrate support assembly 132 and an inner diameter greater than the outer diameters of the heated substrate support assembly 132 and the showerhead 129 so that the hoop liner 145 can create a processing environment around the heated substrate support assembly 132 and the showerhead 129. When the hoop body 146 is in the upper position, shown in FIG. 1, the hoop liner 145 may enter into a cavity 127 b formed within the lid liner 127. When the hoop body 146 is in the lower position, the cylindrical inner wall 145 a of the hoop liner 145 creates a circular confinement wall within the second chamber volume 120 around the substrate 104 and the region immediately above the heated substrate support assembly 132, therefore, providing a symmetrical processing environment for the substrate 104. In one embodiment, the height 145 b of the hoop liner 145 is sufficiently large enough to cover the vertical space between the face plate 129 d of the showerhead 129 and the heated substrate support assembly 132. In one embodiment, the hoop liner 145 may be formed from quartz.

A more detailed description of the lift hoop assembly 144 can be found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/448,012, filed Mar. 1, 2011, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Substrate Transfer and Radical Confinement”.

The first chamber volume 110 is defined by the first chamber body 111 and a chamber bottom 112 attached to the first chamber body 111. The first chamber body 111 has a top wall 118 and sidewalls 119. The top wall 118, side walls 119 and the chamber bottom 112 enclose the first chamber volume 110. A substrate support mechanism configured to support a substrate 104 and exchange substrate with substrate transfer devices, such as substrate transfer robots, may be disposed in the first chamber volume 110. In one embodiment, the substrate support mechanism includes three or more supporting pins 113 for supporting the substrate 104 from its backside 104 b. In one embodiment, the supporting pins 113 may be fixedly extended from the first chamber body 111 or the chamber bottom 112. The supporting pins 113 are positioned to interact with substrate transferring devices.

The second chamber volume 120 and the first chamber volume 110 are coupled to a vacuum system 150. In one embodiment, pressures in the second chamber volume 120 and the first chamber volume 110 are controlled independently from one another.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a second chamber body 121 with the showerhead 129 removed. The second chamber body 121 includes sidewalls 122 and a bottom wall 123. The bottom wall 123 is formed to match the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111 to form a closed chamber volume, passages for vacuum and utilities (details to follow). Two openings 325 are formed through the sidewalls 122 to allow substrate transferring. A slit valve door may be attached outside of each opening 325 thus providing interface between the second chamber volume 120 and two processing environments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the first chamber volume 110 of the dual load lock chamber 100. Two openings 416 are formed through the sidewalls 119 of the first chamber body 111 to allow substrate transfer between two processing environments, for example a vacuum transfer chamber and an atmospheric factory interface (both not shown). A slit valve door may be attached outside of each opening 416 to selectively seal the first chamber volume 110 from the two processing environments, such as the vacuum transfer chamber and the atmospheric factor interface. The first chamber body 111 may have a lower vacuum port 415 open to the first chamber volume 110 for pumping the first chamber volume 110.

In one embodiment, an upper vacuum port 454 is also formed through the first chamber body 111 for pumping the second chamber volume 120.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the first chamber body 111 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The recess 118 a is formed on the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111. The recess 118 a allows the heated substrate support assembly 132 to sit low in the second chamber volume 120 thus reducing the second chamber volume 120. A center notch 543 may be formed within the recess 118 a for anchoring the thermal insulator 143 (shown in FIG. 1) for supporting the heated substrate support assembly 132. The upper vacuum port 454 is formed through the sidewalls 119 of the first chamber body 111 and opens to the recess 118 a formed in the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111. Thus, the recess 118 a also allows pumping channel to the second chamber volume 120 to form within the first chamber body 111. Alternatively, the vacuum port 454 may be formed outside the recess 118 a to match with a port formed on the bottom wall 123 of the second chamber body 121.

In one embodiment, at least one gland 511 a is formed around the recess 118 a. A seal may be disposed in each gland 511 a to form a vacuum seal between the second chamber body 121 and the first chamber body 111. In one embodiment, two glands 511 a may be formed on the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111 to provide increased vacuum seal.

FIG. 6 is a perspective sectional view showing the second chamber body 121 and the first chamber body 111 in an assembled together. The central opening 123 a formed on the bottom wall 123 of the second chamber body 121 connects the interior of the second chamber volume 120 with the recess 118 a on the top wall 118 of the first chamber body 111. Thus, the upper vacuum port 454 is in fluid communication with the second chamber volume 120 when the second chamber body 121 is attached to the first chamber body 111.

FIG. 7 is a perspective sectional view of the second chamber body 121 and the first chamber body 111 with the heater substrate support assembly 132 removed. In FIG. 7, the lower vacuum port 415 is shown. The second chamber body 121 and the first chamber body 111 can be joined together with various methods to obtain a vacuum seal. In one embodiment, the second chamber body 121 is bolted to the first chamber body 111. In another embodiment, the first chamber body 111 and the second chamber body 121 may be brazed together to reduce risk of leak and to eliminate issues with tolerance.

FIG. 8 is a schematic section view a dual load lock chamber 800 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The dual load lock chamber 800 is similar to the dual load lock chamber 100 except that a lamp assembly 810 in the dual load lock chamber 800 is used in place of the remote plasma source 130 in the dual load lock chamber 100. A quartz window 811 is disposed over the lid liner 127. The lamp assembly 810 is positioned outside the quartz window 811. Radiant energy from the lamp assembly 810 can be directed to the second chamber volume 120 through the quartz window 811. A gas source 812 is in fluid communication with the second chamber volume 120 to provide processing gas and/or inert gas for purging.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a substrate processing system 900 that includes one or more dual load lock chambers 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. Dual load lock chamber 800 can also be used in place of dual load lock chambers 100.

The system 900 includes a vacuum-tight processing platform 904, a factory interface 902, and a system controller 944. The platform 904 includes a plurality of processing chambers 918 and at least one dual load-lock chamber 100 that are coupled to a vacuum substrate transfer chamber 936. In one embodiment, the transfer chamber 936 may have four sides 920. Each side 920 is configured to connect with a pair of processing chambers 918 or load lock chambers 100. Six processing chambers 918 are coupled to three sides 920 of the transfer chamber 936 and two dual load lock chambers 100 are coupled the fourth side 920 of the transfer chamber 936 as shown in FIG. 9. The factory interface 902 is coupled to the transfer chamber 936 by the dual load lock chambers 100.

In one embodiment, the factory interface 902 comprises at least one docking station 908 and at least one factory interface robot 914 to facilitate transfer of substrates. The docking station 908 is configured to accept one or more front opening unified pod (FOUP). Four FOUPS 906 are shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9. The factory interface robot 914 having a blade 916 disposed on one end of the robot 914 is configured to transfer the substrate from the factory interface 902 to the processing platform 904 for processing through the dual load lock chambers 100.

Each of the dual load lock chambers 100 have two ports coupled to the factory interface 902 and two ports coupled to the transfer chamber 936. The dual load lock chambers 100 are coupled to a pressure control system (not shown) which pumps down and vents the dual load lock chambers 100 to facilitate passing the substrate between the vacuum environment of the transfer chamber 936 and the substantially ambient (e.g., atmospheric) environment of the factory interface 902.

The transfer chamber 936 has a vacuum robot 937 disposed therein for transferring a substrate 924 among the dual load lock chambers 100 and the processing chambers 918. In one embodiment, the vacuum robot 937 has two blades 940 each capable of transferring a substrate 924 among the dual load lock chambers 100 and the processing chambers 918. In one embodiment, the vacuum robot 937 is configured to simultaneously transfer two substrates 924 to two processing chambers 918 or two load locks 100.

In one embodiment, at least one process chambers 918 is an etch chamber. For example, the etch chamber may be a Decoupled Plasma Source (DPS) chamber available from Applied Materials, Inc. The DPS etch chamber uses an inductive source to produce high-density plasma and comprises a source of radio-frequency (RF) power to bias the substrate. Alternatively, at least one of the process chambers 918 may be one of a HART™, E-MAX®, DPS®, DPS II, PRODUCER E, or ENABLER® etch chamber also available from Applied Materials, Inc. Other etch chambers, including those from other manufacturers, may be utilized. The etch chambers may use a halogen-containing gas to etch the substrate 924 therein. Examples of halogen-containing gas include hydrogen bromide (HBr), chlorine (Cl₂), carbon tetrafluoride (CF₄), and the like. After etching the substrate 924, halogen-containing residues may be left on the substrate surface.

The halogen-containing residues may be removed by a thermal treatment process in the dual load lock chambers 100. For example, a thermal treatment process may be performed in the second chamber volume 120 of one or both dual load lock chambers 100. Alternatively, an ashing process may be performed in the second chamber volume 120 of one or both dual load lock chambers 100.

The system controller 944 is coupled to the processing system 900. The system controller 944 controls the operation of the system 900 using a direct control of the process chambers 918 of the system 900 or alternatively, by controlling the computers (or controllers) associated with the process chambers 918 and the system 900. In operation, the system controller 944 enables data collection and feedback from the respective chambers and system controller 944 to optimize performance of the system 900.

The system controller 944 generally includes a central processing unit (CPU) 938, a memory 939, and support circuit 942. The CPU 938 may be one of any form of a general purpose computer processor that can be used in an industrial setting. The support circuits 942 are conventionally coupled to the CPU 938 and may comprise cache, clock circuits, input/output subsystems, power supplies, and the like. The software routines, such as a method 1000 for removing halogen-containing residues described below with reference to FIG. 10 and/or a method 1100 for ashing described with reference to FIG. 11, when executed by the CPU 938, transform the CPU 938 into a specific purpose computer (controller) 944. The software routines may also be stored and/or executed by a second controller (not shown) that is located remotely from the system 900.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method 1000 for processing a substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, the method 1000 is configured to remove halogen-containing residue from a substrate. The method 1000 may be performed in the processing system 900 as described in FIG. 9. It is contemplated that the method 1000 may be performed in other suitable processing systems, including those from other manufacturers.

The method 1000 begins at box 1010 by transferring a substrate having a layer disposed thereon from one of the FOUPs 906 to the dual load lock chamber 100 and pumping down the chamber volume containing the substrate to a vacuum level equal to that of the transfer chamber 936. In one embodiment, the substrate transferred to the dual load lock chamber 100 may be transferred from the factory interface 902 only into the first chamber volume 110 of the dual load lock chamber 100. In this manner, cross contamination between processed and unprocessed substrate is beneficially reduced.

In another embodiment, the substrate transferred to the dual load lock chamber 100 may be preheated to a predetermined temperature by the heated substrate support assembly 132 in the second chamber volume 120 of the load lock chamber 100. In one embodiment, the substrate may be preheated to a temperature between about 20 degrees Celsius and about 400 degrees Celsius.

At box 1020, after the pressure within the dual load lock chamber 100 and the transfer chamber 936 are substantially equal, the vacuum robot 937 transfers the substrate from the dual load lock chamber 100 to one of the processing chambers 918.

At box 1030, the substrate is etched in one of the processing chamber 918 to form desired features and patterns on the substrate.

In one embodiment, the substrate is etched in one of the processing chambers 918 by supplying a gas mixture having at least a halogen-containing gas. The patterned mask may include photoresist and/or hardmask. Suitable examples of halogen-containing gas include, but not limited to, hydrogen bromide (HBr), chlorine (Cl₂), carbon tetrafluoride (CF₄), and the like. In an exemplary embodiment suitable for etching polysilicon, the gas mixture supplied to the processing chamber 918 provides a gas mixture including hydrogen bromide (HBr) and chlorine (Cl₂) gas at a flow rate between about 20 sccm and about 300 sccm, such as between 20 sccm and about 60 sccm, for example about 40 sccm. The hydrogen bromide (HBr) and chlorine (Cl₂) gas may have a gas ratio ranging between about 1:0 and about 1:30, such as about 1:15. An inert gas may be supplied with the gas mixture to the processing chamber 918. Suitable examples of inert gas may include nitrogen (N₂), argon (Ar), helium (He) and the like. In one embodiment, the inert gas, such as N₂, may supplied with the gas mixture at a flow rate between about 0 sccm and about 200 sccm, such as between about 0 sccm and about 40 sccm, for example about 20 sccm. A reducing gas, such as carbon monoxide (CO) may be supplied with the gas mixture. The plasma power for the etch process may be maintained between about 200 Watts and about 3000 Watts, such as about 500 Watts and about 1500 Watts, for example about 1100 Watts, and the bias power may be maintained between about 0 Watts and about 300 Watts, such as about 0 Watts and about 80 Watts, for example about 20 Watts. The process pressure may be controlled at between about 2 mTorr and about 100 mTorr, such as between about 2 mTorr and about 20 mTorr, for example about 4 mTorr, and the substrate temperature may be maintained at between about 0 degrees Celsius and about 200 degrees Celsius, such as between about 0 degrees Celsius and about 100 degrees Celsius, for example about 45 degrees Celsius.

During etching process, the etched materials may combine with the components of the etchant chemistry, as well as with the components of the mask layers, if any, and by-products of the etch process, thereby forming halogen-containing residues. In one embodiment, the materials on the substrate to be etched may include photoresist layer, hard mask layer, bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC), polysilicon, crystalline silicon, gate oxide, metal gate, such as Titanium nitride (TiN), and high-k materials, such as aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), hafnium containing oxide. Suitable examples of hard mask layer include silicon nitride, TEOS, silicon oxide, amorphous carbon, and silicon carbide. The halogen-containing residues deposit on the surfaces of the substrate. The halogen-containing residue may release (e.g., outgas) gaseous reactants, such as bromine (Br₂), chlorine (Cl₂), hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen bromine (HBr) and the like, if exposed to atmospheric pressures and/or water vapor. The release of such reactants may cause corrosions and particle contamination of the processing apparatus and factory interfaces during substrate transfer, such as the vacuum-tight processing platform 904 and the factory interface 902 as described in FIG. 9. In embodiments where metallic layers, such as Cu, Al, W, are exposed to the substrate surface, the metallic layer may be corroded by the released gaseous reactants if they are not removed by the inventive process described below, thereby adversely deteriorating the performance of devices formed on the substrate.

Halogens may also be present on the surface of substrates that are processed in a vacuum environment in a manner other than etching. Therefore, it is contemplated that halogens may be removed from those substrates using the method and apparatus described herein.

At box 1040, the processed (e.g., etched) substrate is transferred to the second chamber volume 120 of the dual load lock chamber 100 to remove the halogen-containing residues from the substrate generated during processing of box 1030 prior to exposure to atmospheric conditions or water vapor in the factory interface or other location. After etch processing, the vacuum robot 937 in the transfer chamber 936 transfers the etched substrate from one of the processing chambers 918 to the lifting fingers 147 in the second chamber volume 120 of the load lock chamber 100. The lifting fingers 147 lower and transfer the etched substrate to the heated substrate support assembly 132.

At box 1050, a thermal treatment process is performed on the etched substrate to remove the halogen-containing residues on the etched substrate surface. The heater 135 in the heated substrate support assembly 132 is used to cause the temperature of the surface of the substrate to rise, thereby causing halogen-based reactants disposed on the etched substrate surface to be released and/or outgassed. The heated substrate support assembly 132 heats the substrate to a temperature between about 20 degrees Celsius and about 1000 degrees Celsius, such as between about 150 degrees Celsius and about 300 degrees Celsius, for example about 250 degrees Celsius, at between about 5 seconds and about 30 seconds. The rapid heating of the substrate by heated substrate support assembly 132 allows the halogen-containing residues on the etched substrate to be removed without increasing process cycle time which would be encountered if the residues were removed in one if the processing chambers. In one embodiment, the substrate may be heated by the heated substrate support assembly 132 at a predetermined time period until the halogen-containing residues on the etched substrate are removed therefrom. The time or endpoint may be determined using the sensors connected to the sensor signal receiver 139. The etched substrate may be heated at a temperature between about 150 degrees Celsius and about 300 degrees Celsius, such as 250 degrees Celsius for between about 10 seconds to about 120 seconds, such as between about 30 seconds to about 90 seconds.

In one embodiment, the gas mixture may be provided to the second chamber volume 120 of the dual load lock chamber 100 through the remote plasma source 130. The remote plasma source 130 ionizes the gas mixture. The dissociated ions and species promote the conversion of the outgassed halogen-based reactants into non-corrosive volatile compounds, thereby increasing the removal efficiency of the halogen-containing residues from the etched substrate surface. The gas mixture may include an oxygen-containing gas, such as O₂, O₃, water vapor (H₂O), a hydrogen-containing gas, such as H₂, forming gas, water vapor (H₂O), alkanes, alkenes, and the like, or an inert gas, such as a nitrogen gas (N₂), argon (Ar), helium (He), and the like. For example, the gas mixture may include oxygen, nitrogen, and a hydrogen-containing gas. In one embodiment, the hydrogen-containing gas is at least one of hydrogen (H₂) and water vapor (H₂O). In embodiments which mask layers is present on the substrate, the mask layers may be simultaneously removed with the halogen-containing residues, e.g., the mask is stripped of the photoresist in the load lock chamber.

In one embodiment, the remote plasma source may provide a plasma power at between about 500 Watts and 6000 Watts. In embodiments where the plasma is present, an inert gas, such as Ar, He or N₂, may be supplied with the gas mixture.

Alternatively, when dual load lock chamber 800 is used in place of the dual load lock chamber 100, a gas mixture may be supplied from the gas source 812 to the second chamber volume 120 while heating the etched substrate. The etched substrate is exposed to and reacts with the gas mixture. The gas mixture converts the outgassed halogen-based reactants into non-corrosive volatile compounds that are pumped out of the dual load lock chamber 100.

Optionally, the substrate may be returned to one of the processing chamber 918 of the system for additional processing prior to removing from the vacuum environment. The substrate, after the halogen removal process at box 1050, will not introduce halogens into the processing chambers during subsequent processing, thereby preventing damage to the processing chambers.

At box 1060, the second chamber volume 120 is vented to atmospheric pressure. Optionally, the heated substrate support assembly 132 may be cooled to lower the substrate temperature to a desired level through the cooling adaptor 141 during venting. In one embodiment, the etched substrate may be cooled to a temperature ranging between about 10 degrees Celsius and about 125 degrees Celsius that allows the etched substrate returning to the FOUPs 906 without causing damage to the FOUPs 906.

At box 1070, the etched substrate from the second chamber volume 120 of the load lock chamber 100 and return to one of the FOUPs 906 once the pressures of the second chamber volume 120 and the factory interface 902 are matched.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a photoresist removal process may be performed in the dual load lock chamber according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 1100 including removing photoresist from a substrate in a load lock chamber as the substrate exits a substrate processing system, such as the substrate processing system 900 of FIG. 9.

The method 1100 is similar to the method 1000 of FIG. 10 except the method 1100 includes an ashing process described in box 1150.

At box 1150, an ashing process is performed in the second chamber volume 120 of the dual load lock chamber 100 to remove photoresist from the substrates. An oxygen-based plasma may be used. For example, an oxidizing gas such as O₂, is flown to the remote plasma source 130 at a flow rate of 100 to 10,000 sccm. The oxidizing gas is formed into a plasma when 600 to 6000 watts of RF energy is applied to the remote plasma source 130. The gas pressure in the second chamber volume 120 may be maintained at 0.3 to 3 Torr. The temperature of the substrate may be maintained at 15 to 300 degrees Celsius. Various oxidizing gases can be used including, but not limited to, O₂ O₃, N₂O, H₂O, CO, CO₂, alcohols, and various combinations of these gases. In other embodiments of the invention, nonoxidizing gases may be used including, but not limited to, N₂, H₂O, H₂, forming gas, NH₃, CH₄, C₂H₆, various halogenated gases (CF₄, NF₃, C₂F₆, C₄F₈, CH₃F, CH₂F₂, CHF₃), combinations of these gases and the like.

The method 1000 or 1100 may incorporate the dual load lock chamber 100 by using the first chamber volume 110 exclusively for incoming substrates and using the second chamber volume 120 exclusively for outgoing substrates. By keeping the incoming and outgoing substrates in separate paths, embodiments of the present invention effectively prevent cross-contamination between processed and unprocessed substrates.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A load lock chamber, comprising: a chamber body defining a first chamber volume and a second chamber volume isolated from one another, wherein the first chamber volume is selectively connectable to an ambient environment and a vacuum environment through first and second openings configured for substrate transferring, and the second chamber volume is configured for substrate processing in a plasma environment and is selectively connected to the ambient and vacuum environments through third and fourth openings; a pressure control system operable to control pressures within the first chamber volume and the second chamber volume between ambient and vacuum conditions; a heated substrate support assembly disposed in the second chamber volume, wherein the heated substrate support assembly is configured to support and heat a substrate thereon during plasma processing within the second chamber volume; a lift hoop assembly disposed in the second chamber volume surrounding the heated substrate support assembly and configured to lift the substrate, the lift hoop assembly comprising a ring-shaped hoop body, a hoop liner disposed on the hoop body and extending vertically upwards from the hoop body defining a processing region therein, and three or more lifting fingers attached to the hoop body and extending vertically downwards below the hoop body and radially inwards from the hoop body; and a remote plasma source connected to the second chamber volume configured to supply a plasma to the second chamber volume to ionize a gas mixture comprising an oxygen-containing gas, a hydrogen-containing gas, or an inert gas; and a showerhead, wherein when in a lowered position, the hoop liner surrounds both the heated substrate support assembly and at least a portion of the showerhead.
 2. The load lock chamber of claim 1, further comprising a thermal insulator disposed within the second chamber volume between the heated substrate support assembly and the chamber body, wherein the heated substrate support assembly does not directly contact the chamber body.
 3. The load lock chamber of claim 2, wherein the chamber body comprises: a first chamber body having a top wall, sidewalls, and a chamber bottom, wherein the top wall, sidewalls and chamber bottom define the first chamber volume; a second chamber body stacked on the top wall of the first chamber body, wherein the second chamber body and the top wall of the first chamber body define the second chamber volume.
 4. The load lock chamber of claim 3, wherein the heated substrate support assembly comprises: an upper heater plate having an upper surface for supporting a substrate thereon; a lower heater plate attached to a lower surface of the upper heater plate; and a heater disposed between the upper heater plate and the lower heater plate.
 5. The load lock chamber of claim 4, wherein the heated substrate support assembly further comprises a cantilever tube attached to a center of the lower heater plate.
 6. The load lock chamber of claim 4, wherein the heated substrate support assembly further comprises a chucking mechanism configured to chuck the substrate to the upper surface of the upper heater plate.
 7. The load lock chamber of claim 3, wherein the showerhead is disposed within a central opening defined by the second chamber body, and the showerhead is configured to provide processing gas to the second chamber volume.
 8. The load lock chamber of claim 3, further comprising a lamp assembly disposed above the second chamber body and configured to provide radiant energy towards the second chamber volume.
 9. The load lock chamber of claim 3, wherein a lower vacuum port is formed through the chamber bottom of the first chamber body, and the lower vacuum port provides a pumping channel to the first chamber volume.
 10. The load lock chamber of claim 9, wherein an upper vacuum port is formed through the sidewalls of the first chamber body, the upper vacuum port opens to the second chamber volume.
 11. The load lock chamber of claim 1, wherein the hoop body provides a circular confinement wall around the heated substrate support assembly.
 12. The load lock chamber of claim 1, wherein the the third and fourth openings are configured for substrate transferring.
 13. The load lock chamber of claim 1, further comprising a lid liner, the lid liner comprising an inner lip forming a central opening and configured to support the showerhead, the lid liner having a cavity formed within the lid liner and configured to receive the hoop liner within the cavity.
 14. A load lock chamber, comprising: a chamber body defining a second chamber volume stacked above a first chamber volume and isolated from one another, wherein the first chamber volume is selectively connectable to an ambient environment and a vacuum environment through first and second openings configured for substrate transferring, and the second chamber volume is configured for substrate processing in a plasma environment and is selectively connected to the ambient and vacuum environments through third and fourth openings; a substrate support assembly disposed in the second chamber volume; a lift hoop assembly disposed in the second chamber volume surrounding the heated substrate support assembly and configured to lift the substrate, the lift hoop assembly comprising a ring-shaped hoop body, a hoop liner disposed on the hoop body and extending vertically upwards from the hoop body defining a processing region therein; and a showerhead, wherein when in a lowered position, the hoop liner surrounds both the heated substrate support assembly and the showerhead.
 15. The load lock chamber of claim 14, further comprising a thermal insulator disposed within the second chamber volume between the substrate support assembly and the chamber body, wherein the substrate support assembly does not directly contact the chamber body.
 16. The load lock chamber of claim 14, wherein the substrate support assembly comprises: an upper heater plate having an upper surface for supporting a substrate thereon; a lower heater plate attached to a lower surface of the upper heater plate; a heater disposed between the upper heater plate and the lower heater plate; and a cantilever tube attached to the center of the lower heater plate.
 17. The load lock chamber of claim 14, wherein the showerhead is disposed within a central opening defined by the second chamber body, and the showerhead is configured to provide processing gas to the second chamber volume.
 18. The load lock chamber of claim 14, further comprising a lamp assembly disposed above the second chamber volume and configured to provide radiant energy towards the second chamber volume.
 19. The load lock chamber of claim 14, wherein the hoop body provides a circular confinement wall around the substrate support assembly.
 20. The load lock chamber of claim 14, wherein the third and fourth openings are configured for substrate transferring. 